Stephen Prutsman wears many hats: piano soloist with top orchestras, jazz improviser, classical composer, arranger for Kronos Quartet. On Tuesday (April 17), he’ll play a solo recital at The University of New Orleans, ranging across the keys of a Steinway grand — and across the musical spectrum. His program sets Bach compositions beside classics by Wagner, Debussy and other Europeans, and also features Prutsman’s arrangements of African folk music, Indian ragas and be-bop.

Pianist Stephen Prutsman, shown at a 2011 concert, will present a solo recital at UNO on April 17

“Ranking musical traditions seems like a big mistake to me, so I try to design programs that make listeners put on their Star Trek geek glasses and trip from world to world,” Prutsman said. “I want them to see that each tradition is beautiful in its own right. There is a profound spiritual journey to be made when figuring out the pitch relationships in a Bach fugue, or finding the intentions behind a piece of African folk music.”

Although Prutsman has won his share of awards, including a prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, he is skeptical about the increasing focus on technical skills among classical recreators.

“Leon Fleisher got it right when he said ‘the level of mediocrity keeps rising with each generation.’ The music can’t come to life if you think there is one perfect way to do it, if you focus on refining, controlling and limiting the experience. My intention is to feel free within the welcome limits set by a composer,” Prutsman said.

The pianist also rejects the idea of musical genius.

“Human beings love the idea of genius, but I think the best approach to playing a Beethoven sonata — or any other music — is to think of the composer as a man with a whole mixture of faults and virtues,” Prutsman said. “If you say that Beethoven is superhuman, its suddenly hard to hear his music, hard to play it, hard to understand it. Those are the same kind of tricks people like to play with religion. It’s a mistake to take Beethoven or the Bible out of context.”

Stephen Prutsman

What: The noted pianist and composer presents a wide-ranging recital that sets Bach compositions beside classical selections and his own arrangements of African folk music, be-bop classics and rock anthems.

Where: UNO Performing Arts Center Recital Hall

When: Tuesday (April 17), 7:30 p.m.

Admission: $12; call 504.280.6789 or email musicalexcursions@uno.edu

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Chris Waddington can be reached at cwaddington@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3448. Read more about at nola.com/music. Follow him at twitter.com/cwaddingtontp.